04/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/08/2024 22:01
Follow warnings and instructions of emergency management officials
Widespread damage from high winds and heavy rainfall may cause power outages
Crews will begin power restoration as soon as conditions are safe to do so
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Duke Energy Florida is urging customers to follow the warnings and instructions of emergency management officials and take necessary precautions as Tropical Storm Debby approaches Florida, bringing high winds and heavy rainfall that may cause power outages.
"Safety guides everything we do at Duke Energy, but it's especially important during storms like Tropical Storm Debby," said Todd Fountain, Duke Energy Florida storm director. "Our crews stand ready to get the lights back on as soon as conditions allow, and in the meantime, we thank our customers for their continued preparation and vigilance."
Restoring power after a storm can be extremely challenging for repair crews, as travel and work conditions can be impacted by high winds and potential flooding - making repair work lengthy and difficult in some areas.
Customers are advised to practice the safety protocols below:
Customers should also implement the following safety measures if they experience a power outage:
Customers can receive the most up-to-date information about restoration efforts by:
Additionally, customers are encouraged to download the enhanced American Red Cross Emergency app for weather safety. The latest version of the app, sponsored by the Duke Energy Foundation, is free, is available in both English and Spanish and offers a variety of features including emergency checklists, interactive maps of open shelters and the ability to monitor multiple locations for weather alerts.
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear.
More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.
Contact: Audrey Stasko
Media line: 800.559.3853
Twitter: @DE_AudreyS